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Taking a break from recent events, and stretching out new abilities, Leonardo travels to the Astral Plane where he encounters an unusual guide and an unexpected adversary. Tied to recent events, but very much a standalone story, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #25 is an interesting issue that takes place almost entirely in the mental/spiritual realm.

The first of three episodes to guest-star Miyamoto Usagi (Yuki Matsuzaki), and the only one written by rabbit ronin creator Stan Sakai, “Yojimbo” finds the Turtles transported to an anthropomorphic dimension and hypnotized by the evil Jei (Keone Young) to kill the wandering samurai and capture the young child who is under the ronin’s protection. How many ninja turtles does it take to defeat one rabbit ronin? More than four. In their confrontation, Usagi is able to knock some sense back into the turtles who agree to travel with Usagi to deliver young Kintaro (Evan Kishiyama) to the Temple of the Sky Buddha.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe #20 features Raphael and Alopex working together to free animals at Null Industries before they can be mutated. There’s plenty of action here as the pair square of against the murderous Zodi and the equally scary (but apparently far less-murderous) Krisa who Alopex is able to reason with long enough for our heroes to successfully finish their mission.

Available at Wal-Mart, this new 12in. Usagi Yojimbo figure comes complete with two swords and a whole lot of awesome and can be yours for the low, low price of $12.97. New 5in. figures of the rabbit ronin have also been released as part of the new Tales of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles line from Playmates.

For someone who hasn’t kept up with the series in recent months, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #55 offers a good opportunity to catch up with the Heroes in a Half-Shell and some very big changes in their lives. Victorious over the Shredder, Splinter and his sons have taken back control of New York and control of the Foot Clan. All seems well for most of the Turtles, although Michelangelo has decided life among his former enemies isn’t for him.

You can now pre-order your own 11in. Leonardo Sixth Scale Figure complete with comic and TV-series headbands, katanas and scabbards, shurikens, grabbing claw, blaster, and more all for the low, low price of $150.